Last Modified: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 8:18 p.m.

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The Henderson County Sheriff's Office, along with other local law enforcement agencies, hit the streets this week to ensure the safety of students returning to school.

Operation Safe Start began Tuesday and continues today with marked patrol cars following school buses on their routes in an effort to raise community awareness that school is back in session, according to Henderson County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Capt. Charlie McDonald.

"We did notice some people violating school zone laws," Deputy David Hensley said. "There were two incidents Tuesday of people passing stopped school buses."

"We intend to use the presence of our vehicles with the school buses as a gentle reminder of the need for extreme caution and diligence to obey traffic laws for the safety of our children," Sheriff Rick Davis said. "It is easy to get out of the habit of watching for the buses or setting our drive schedules to accommodate school bus traffic over the summer break."

Davis said his deputies hope their increased presence over the three-day period will be enough to remind and deter drivers, but they are prepared to issue citations for any infractions observed. Passing stopped school buses, speeding in school zones, and careless and reckless driving are some of the offenses the sheriff's office hopes to reduce.

"Following the buses on their routes gives drivers exposure to local law enforcement," Hensley said. "It also lets drivers know we are serious about safety. If the education comes from citations, so be it."

Wednesday was Hensley's normal day off from the Sheriff's Office, but he came on before 5 a.m. and followed a school bus from Rugby Middle School on its route and did the same in the afternoon.

"We are looking for drivers that are paying attention to the buses," he said. "It is our objective to keep the kids safe."

Hensley said that passing a stopped school bus is five points on your driver's license, a mandatory court date and judges will not allow prayer for judgment continued in these cases.

"The reactions we get when we pull people over who have passed a school bus are denial, then remorseful and eventually trying to get out of the ticket," he said.

The Sheriff's Office had 80 officers on the road each day of the operation, according to Hensley.

<p>Even the presence of police cars didn't deter drivers from passing stopped school buses Tuesday. Local law enforcement is hoping to change that.</p><p>The Henderson County Sheriff's Office, along with other local law enforcement agencies, hit the streets this week to ensure the safety of students returning to school.</p><p>Operation Safe Start began Tuesday and continues today with marked patrol cars following school buses on their routes in an effort to raise community awareness that school is back in session, according to Henderson County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Capt. Charlie McDonald.</p><p>"We did notice some people violating school zone laws," Deputy David Hensley said. "There were two incidents Tuesday of people passing stopped school buses."</p><p>"We intend to use the presence of our vehicles with the school buses as a gentle reminder of the need for extreme caution and diligence to obey traffic laws for the safety of our children," Sheriff Rick Davis said. "It is easy to get out of the habit of watching for the buses or setting our drive schedules to accommodate school bus traffic over the summer break."</p><p>Davis said his deputies hope their increased presence over the three-day period will be enough to remind and deter drivers, but they are prepared to issue citations for any infractions observed. Passing stopped school buses, speeding in school zones, and careless and reckless driving are some of the offenses the sheriff's office hopes to reduce.</p><p>"Following the buses on their routes gives drivers exposure to local law enforcement," Hensley said. "It also lets drivers know we are serious about safety. If the education comes from citations, so be it."</p><p>Wednesday was Hensley's normal day off from the Sheriff's Office, but he came on before 5 a.m. and followed a school bus from Rugby Middle School on its route and did the same in the afternoon.</p><p>"We are looking for drivers that are paying attention to the buses," he said. "It is our objective to keep the kids safe."</p><p>Hensley said that passing a stopped school bus is five points on your driver's license, a mandatory court date and judges will not allow prayer for judgment continued in these cases.</p><p>"The reactions we get when we pull people over who have passed a school bus are denial, then remorseful and eventually trying to get out of the ticket," he said.</p><p>The Sheriff's Office had 80 officers on the road each day of the operation, according to Hensley.</p>